Emirates Expands Christchurch Services

Media Release
16 August 2004

EMIRATES EXPANDS CHRISTCHURCH SERVICES

Emirates is moving up a gear in Christchurch ? from tomorrow (Tuesday) the Dubai-based international airline doubles the frequency of its services from the South Island gateway.

Since starting Christchurch services on July 2, Emirates has been flying three times a week. Now it will operate six days a week, Tuesdays to Sundays inclusive.

The Christchurch-Melbourne-Dubai flights, operated by Emirates' leading-edge Airbus A340-500 aircraft, have attracted excellent passenger and cargo loadings from the outset.

Richard Vaughan, Emirates' Senior Vice President Commercial Operations for East Asia and Australasia, said: "We are delighted with the support we have had from Christchurch and the rest of the South Island, both in terms of Melbourne business and onward travel to Dubai, our hub to 20 Europe destinations, Africa and other parts of the world. Expanding to six days a week will make us even more competitive than we have been through quality of service and value.

"We also see growing inbound travel to the South Island making this a popular route."

The A340-500 carries 12 First Class, 42 Business and 204 Economy passengers, and 14 tonnes of cargo, adding valuable, wide-bodied capacity for South Island exporters.

Emirates was the launch carrier for the Airbus A340-500, the world's longest-range commercial aircraft, when it started operating last December on the Dubai-Sydney-Auckland route. Emirates' USD$1.8 billion investment in its fleet of A340-500s ensures that its long-haul passengers travel in maximum comfort. The aircraft boast several innovations including: the world's first enclosed suites in First Class; mood lighting which helps to ease jetlag; and an inflight entertainment system with over 500 channels - three times as many as on other airlines.

Christchurch service details

Emirates' Dubai-Melbourne-Christchurch service, flight EK406, departs Dubai at 10.10am Mondays to Saturdays, arriving in Melbourne at 5.30am the next day. EK406 then continues onward to Christchurch, departing from Melbourne at 7.15am Tuesdays to Sundays and landing in Christchurch at 12.30pm.

Return flight EK407 takes off from Christchurch Tuesdays to Sundays at 6.05pm, landing in Melbourne at 7.45pm. From Melbourne, the flight departs for Dubai at 9.30pm, arriving at 5.40am the next day.

All flight times indicated above are local.

Emirates' new services introduced so far in 2004 include: Lagos, Accra, Glasgow, Vienna, Shanghai, New York and Christchurch, plus Budapest (cargo-only).

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